Stairlift rental guide

There are many reasons why renting a stairlift may be more convenient than buying.

Renting a stairlift can be a good option if you or a member of your household have difficulty getting up the stairs, or when someone is terminally ill. Renting also gives you peace of mind, as we cover the stairlift maintenance* and servicing.

The benefits of renting a stairlift

• We will remove your stairlift when you no longer need it for free
• Affordable monthly payments from only £45 per month
• We cover stairlift maintenance and an annual service if you have the stairlift for more than a year
• You can buy the stairlift at anytime
• You can have fixed stairlift rental payments for life
• Our rental rates are very competitive.

Things to consider

Many questions will arise when deciding what type of stairlift to rent. Our expert technicians can guide you and answer your questions when we visit. Here is a list of things to consider:

• Can you safely transfer on and off the stair lift seat? -
  
  We can assist you with this problem by giving you the option of a manual or powered swivel seat. As the name suggests, a manual swivel seat operates purely by the operator's own effort which is very minimal as the swivel seat is mounted on a ball bearing cluster which allows the user to turn the seat with the minimum of physical effort.
  
  Alternatively, however, should you feel that you are physically unable to turn the swivel seat yourself, we can offer you, at a small additional cost, a powered swivel seat which, as the name suggests, turns or swivels automatically using a small but powerful electric motor. No physical effort is required to use this type of swivel seat and users who suffer from severe disabilities or physical impairment should look at this as a alternative option.
• What type of seating controls can you manage? -
  
  Basically there are only two sets of controls on a standard stairlift and these are; (1) The swivel seat release control and (2) The single or dual arm controls which give you the customer the option to go up and down the stairs. Both sets of controls are very easy to operate but if required the swivel control can be omitted if the customer decides to opt for a powered swivel seat.
• How does the seat fold away to allow others to use the stairs?
• Do you want the lift to be mains or battery operated?

As a rule of thumb, battery operated stairlifts outweigh their rival mains alternative in the following ways:-

• (a) A battery powered stairlift will continue its journey if you are caught in a power cut and will continue to work for a least two or three days after the power has been turned off.
• (b) Battery powered stairlifts are quieter to operate due to the DC motor that they are powered from.
• (c) They are considered safer as their power voltage works from as little as 24 volts rather than the 240 volts used by a mains operated stairlift so consequently there is no chance of electrocution.
• Advantages of mains powered stairlifts:

(a) They are on the whole cheaper to run and maintain as they do not require replacement batteries every three to four years.

(b) They can be left parked anywhere on the stairlift track as they are permantley charged with a recoiling enery chain which unlike their battery rivals which have to be parked at each end of the stairlift track on the fixed charging positions.

(c) A mains operated stairlift can be turned off when you go on holiday where as a battery powered stairlift is recommomended to be left on charge permanantly while you are away to avoid battery drainage and acute failure.

• Should you go for a new or reconditioned stairlift?
• What are the running costs?

Controls

Controls may be push button, joystick or toggle and should ideally be sited on the armrest on the side of hand dominance or preference. Remote controls for a carer to operate are also available from some companies. These may be handheld or wall mounted.

The Brooks/Acorn straight stairlift incorporates the latest technology including the 'soft start soft finish' which allows a slow gradual acceleration to prevent any uncomfortable sudden jerks or jolts. People with back problems such as spondylitis of the spine have found this facility helps them enormously. And the Brooks Lincoln curved 80 stairlift has a unique rocker switch or joystick option available which enable users with severe arthritis to be able to operate the stairlift using only part of the hand.

Stairlift footplates

To make space on the staircase for other users, the footplate and seat can be folded up. Footrest linkage allows the seat and footplate to be folded away in one action without bending down. There are usually two options: manual footplates let you fold the footplate up and down by hand. Whilst not requiring a great deal of strength this option does require you to bend. A powered footplate option removes the need to manually fold or unfold the seat and footrest.

Hinges

Some houses have a door near the bottom of the stairs. In these cases a hinged track may be required to avoid blocking the doorway and to prevent a tripping hazard. There are usually two options: a manual hinge means you will have to raise and lower the track by hand. Hinges are designed to make this as easy as possible but it will require some physical effort. a powered hinge lifts or lowers the track automatically when it is in use. You can also raise and lower the track using a button on the remote control or the wall.

Installation

It is a common misconception that stairlifts are fixed to the wall. This is not the case. The lift track will be installed onto the staircase itself. You will be advised by the technical surveyor which side of the staircase will be most convenient for installation from both the technical viewpoint and for ease of use.

If you have any questions regarding the best rental stairlift option for you, please give us a call on freephone 0800 0747171 or email us at info@rentalstairlifts.co.uk

*Full terms and conditions available on request